Adjustable lamp support



Dec, 6, 1949 E. H. GREPPIN 2,490,125

ADJUSTABLE LAMP SUPPORT Filed April 15, 1945 INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 6, 1949 ADJUSTABLE LAMP SUPPORT Ernest H. Greppin, Brighton, N, Y., assignor to Wilmot Castle Company, Rochester, N. X5 a eorporatiqnof NEW York Application Aprill3, 1945",. Serial N 0.. 588,157;

6. Claims.

invention relates to adjustable lamp supports; of the portable variety having a base movable. about, a floor and mounting adjustable standardmeans for supporting a lamp in various RQSitrions of adjustment relative to the work, one object of the invention being to provide an improved lamp support of, the above character adapted to be more easily andflexibly adjusted through a wider range of positions adjacent the work.-

A-nother objectv isto provide such a lamp support in whichthe. adjustable, parts are counterbalanced and flexibly retained in adjusted po sition without. mechanical locks.

Another object is to provide a support of the character described having a counterbalanced, universally adjustable standard and a lamp supported for universal adjustment relative to said standard, with, means for frictionally retaining the parts in adjusted position subject to easy and flexible, adjustment. through a wide range of movement by light adjusting pressure without manipulation of mechanical locks.

A, further object is to provide a lamp having the; above. features in a simple and practical type; o r-construction capable of being readily and economically manufactured.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described. the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end, of the specification.

Inthe drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a lamp support embodying the present invention and showing the aliandard in different vertical adjustments;

Fig. 2. is an enlarged central sectional elevation of parts of the standard;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation on the line 311-311 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view on the. line (a-4a in Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the bearing for the, lamp yoke.

The embodiment of the invention herein disclosed comprises, preferably, a metal base indicated generally at H] having four branching legs Iglmounted on concealed swiveling caster rollers i=2; as well understood in the art, so that the base may be easily rolled over the floor to any position adjacent the work. The base is cast metal construction; relatively small. but heavy, increase the stabilitv of the standard against tipping. Asbest shown in Fig. 2, the base is im-med centrally w tha,cylindr calsoeket. 13 op n at both nd he ower as b ing. reduced i diamet r tov provide ashquld r or s p. 4v for. sunporting the standard, A set SQrew l5 enters the socketv laterally, as shown, i0 7- firmly clamping t e standard therei The supporting stand d Q i s e a: bly, a lower element 1.6 of tubular or cylindrical construction, the lower end of, which is closed by a cylindrical plug l1 secured therein by means of screws I8v and having a flange, [9 underlying the. end of the tube and resting on step [4 in socket l3 of the, base. The plug is formed cene trally with a bearing, opening 20. in which is rotatably mounted the reduced lower end 2! of an upright or guide rod 22. having above the plug a non-circular and; preferably rectan ular cross-sectional shape, as best shown in Fig. 4 The lower end of therod. is extended belowthe plug and. threaded as. at, 23. for the, reception of a castellated nut 24 locked by cotter 'pin 25... one or more washers. 2.6 being interposed be..- tween the: nut and plug to facilitate rotation of t e od n the u T e. standard: comprises an upper element 21, the lower portion of which, is of tubular; cylindrical shape, having an. external diameter slightly less than the-internal diameter of the lower element l6; and rotatably and slidably received in the lower element through the open upper end thereof. Thelower end of the up er element is closed by a collar 28: threadedly engaged therewith and secured by means of screws 29, the collar having a flanged lower end 30 underlying the end of the element and having a diameter closely fitting the internal surface of the lower element Itv to more closely guide the upper element in its. vertical telescoping adjustment. Collar 28 is formed centrally with a nonecircula-r and preferably rectangular opening 3| somewhat larger than; therod 2.2- onwhich, the collar slides. Spring strips 3-2 are; inserted between opposite sides of the: opening 31: and the adjacent faces of. the rod 22, theseresilient strips, being formed in such longitudinallycurved or other shape, as

a to press upon the surfaces of the rod and supply a. frictional resistance to the vertical sliding of the collar and the upper element relative to the rod, for frictionally: retaining the upper element in; vertically adjusted position. The rectangular shape of the rod affords longitudinally extends ing, fiat surfaces of substantial, friction pro-.- ducing area and theI rod thus serves as a frictional; resistance; element. as well as a guide.

Th eight o the up er e eme t a l p carried thereby are counterbalancedby a coiled compression spring 33 interposed between the plug I! in the lower end of the lower element and the collar 28 in the lower end of the upper element, the spring having an external diameter approximating the internal diameter of the lower element so as to guide and retain the spring in position. It will be apparent from the above described construction that the upper element 21 together with its guide rod 22 are adjustably rotatable in the lower element, free from any resistance by the frictional engagement between rod 22 and the spring strips 32 and that the upper, element is effectively counterbalanaced for easy adjustment to different vertical positions in which it is retained by the frictional shoe means interposed between it and its guide rod 22, so that the upper element is flexibly mounted for easy vertical and horizontal adjustment merely by the The upper end of the upper element carries a relatively long, rigid, horizontally curved or off- :set hollow arm 34 threadedly engaged therewith as at 35 and secured by a set screw 36. This end 20f arm 34 is formed with an outlet opening 31 for a lamp circuit cord 38 and the other or upper end of the arm is provided with means for flex- 'ibly suppdrting the lamp which will now be described.

As best shown in Fig. 5, the upper end of arm 34 has threadedly engaged therein a sleeve 39 formed adjacent one end with a cylindrical chamber 40 and at its outer end with a bearing face 4| having therein a bearing opening 42. At 43 is the hub of a lamp supporting yoke having formed therein a central opening or bore 44. The outer end of the hub is formed with a bearing surface 45 cooperating with the arm surface 4| and the bore 44 of the hub has threaded therein a tubular stem 46 pivotally mounted in bearing 42 of the end of the arm and provided at its end with a cylindrical piston head 41 having a rotating and sliding bearing in the cylindrical base, a lower tubular standard element fixed at its chamber of sleeve 39. Within the chamber,

between the sleeve bearing 42 and the head 41 of the yoke stem, is a coiled compression spring 48 which takes up for any wear on the bearing surfaces ll and and maintains them in cooperating seated relation.

The branching arms 49 of the yoke are formed at their ends with pivotal bearings 50 for trunnions 51 on the body 52 of the lamp 53. Such pivotal mounting of the lamp in the yoke and the pivotal connection of the bearing surfaces 4| and 45 afford for the lamp a universal movement about relatively transverse axes by means of which it is supported for universal adjustment on the upper or outer end of the offset arm of the standard.

The construction thus provides, in an effectively counterbalanced arrangement, for easy, flexible and universal adjustment of the arm 34 on the standard and of the lamp on the outer end of the arm, by light adjusting pressures, without manipulation of cumbersome fiexible conduits or of mechanical looks. The construction thus permits of easy and wide adjustment of the relatively long offset arm, so that the lamp head may be readily positioned directly over the center of a table or other operating area, and turned to direct its beam in any desired direction or toward any desired point, and, when not in use, the lamp may be conveniently lowered and disposed of in an out-of-the-way position in a corner or other small space.

lower end to said base, an upper tubular standard element rotatably and slidably received in said lower element through the open upper end thereof, compression spring means interposed between said lower element and the lower end of said upper element for counterbalancing the weight of said upper element, a guide rod rotatably mounted in said lower element and extending slidably into said upper element, and rotatable therewith and friction means connecting said upper element and guide rod for frictionally retaining said upper element in adjusted vertical position.

2. An adjustable lamp support comprising a base, a lower tubular standard element fixed at its lower end to said base, an upper tubular standard element rotatably and slidably received in said lower element through the open upper end thereof, compression spring means in said elements for counterbalancing the weight of said upper element, a guide rod of non-circular cross-'- sectional shape affording longitudinally extending, fiat frictional surfaces of substantial area, said rod being rotatably mounted inside said elements, said upper element having a portion slidably and non-rotatably fitted to said rod, and friction means between said element portion and rod for frictionally retaining said upper element in adjusted vertical position. 3. An adjustable lamp support comprising a base, a lower tubular standard element fixed at its lower end to said base, an upper tubular standard element rotatably and slidably received in said lower element through the open upper end thereof, compression spring means in said elements for counterbalancing the weight of said upper element, a guide rod of non-circular cross sectional shape rotatably mounted in said lower element, a collar on the lower end of said upper element having therein a non-circular opening slidably receiving said rod for rotating said rod with said upper element, and frictional shoe means in said collar opening engaging said rod for frictionally retaining said upper element in adjusted vertical position.

4. An adjustable lamp support comprising a. base formed with a socket, a lower tubular standard element having its lower end fixed in said socket, a plug closing the lower end of said lower element and formed with a bearing opening, an uppertubuiar standard element rotatably and slidably received in said lower element through the open upper end thereof, a collar on the lower 'end of said uper element having therein a non} circular opening, a compression spring in said lower element between said plug and collar for counterbalancing the weight of said upper ele ment, a guide rod of non-circular cross-sectional shape rotatably mounted at its lower end in said plug and slidably received in said collar opening for rotation with said collar and upper element: and frictional shoe means positioned in said collar opening and engaging said guide rod for frictionally retaining said upper element in adjusted vertical position.

5. An adjustable lamp Support comprising a base, a lower tubular standard element fixed at its lower end to said base, an upper tubular standard element rotatably and slidably received in said lower element through the open upper end thereof, spring means for counterbalancing the weight of said upper elementfa guide rod having a mounting in said element's which said rod is freelyrotatable but held ainst movement longitudinally of said elements, said upper element and vrod being connectedifor relative sliding movementahd for rotatmmtdgether as a unit. frIctiQn -Jmeans between said upper element and rod for irictionally retaining said element in adjusted position, a yoke for pivotally supporting a lamp, .th'e'jupper end of said upper element and said yokehaving cooperatingzbearing surfaces, pivotal means connecting s bearing surfaces for rotatably supporting said-Joke, and spring means for maintaining saidsrirfaces in bearing engagement with each other, 352

6. An adjustable lamp support comprising a base, a lower tubular stander element fixed at its lower end to said base, ar' i upper tubular standard element having one end thereof rotatably and slidably received in'said lower element through the open upper end thereof and having at its other end a rigidly curved, laterally offset lamp arm, spring means for counterbalancing the weight of said upper element, a guide rod mounted in said elements for rotation with said upper element, frictional means connecting said upper element and guide rod for yieldably holding said upper element against vertical movement, a lamp yoke, a lamp pivotally supported in said yoke, the outer end of said arm and said yoke having cooperating bearing surfaces and a pivotal connection about an axis perpendicular to the axis of pivotal support of said lamp for universal adjustment of said lamp relative to said arm, and spring means for retaining said hearing surfaces in bearing engagement with each other.

ERNEST H. GREPPIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

